Track Cycling World Cup 2011: Germans break team sprint world record in Cali

Germany fired off the sternest warning yet to Great Britain's sprinters that
they will have to up their game at the London Olympics when they broke world
record in the team sprint in the qualifying round of the World Cup event in
Cali.

The British trio of Jamie Staff, Jason Kenny and Chris Hoy were the previous world record holders, setting the mark in qualifying at the Beijing Olympics, but in Colombia the German trio of Rene Enders, Maximilian Levy and world kilo champion Stafan Nimke blazed around the three laps in 42.914secs at an average speed of 62.916kph.

On the proviso that all three riders come through mandatory doping unscathed and the normal track and timing equipment tests that follow such a ride, the Germans will be declared world record holders.

Germany has traditionally been a powerhouse sprinting nation but in recent years has trailed a little behind Great Britain and France. The balance of power seems to be shifting again though and Germany have put together a powerful squad heading into Olympic year.

Indeed their second string team, riding in the colours of the Erdgas trade team, was second fastest in qualifying in Colombia with 43.934sec, eventually losing to their senior team in the final.

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Britain's sprint squad, who are not competing in Cali, have generally struggled to impress this year but are currently halfway through a five-week boot camp in Perth, Western Australia designed to sort out one or two technical issues and to get the team riding competitive times again.

Catching the Germans now is going to be a huge task though.

Meanwhile the German women were also the fastest in their team sprint with Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel completing the two laps in a very swift 33.058secs – they will now meet Ukranians Olena Tsos and Shulika Lyubov for the gold medal, with Russia facing the Netherlands for bronze.